3 minute read
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Excited About Our Future
Ron Rubin. 2023-2024 President
As Winston Churchill once said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” That resonates with us so strongly right now. LCA has seen it’s share of tough times and struggles over the last several years. We have had some financial concerns and membership changes prior to, during, and following COVID. However, LCA is in its year of change. We are looking forward to sharing and celebrating our improvements with all of you and are thrilled with how LCA is positioning itself for the future.
All companies and organizations have to remain relevant to stay in business, LCA is no different. Change is inevitable and LCA is poised to be a leader for the future of our local landscape industry.
LCA will be reinventing itself. As a direct result of LCA’s creation, there are many companies within our area who are nationally recognized and used as the gold standard that others throughout the country utilize to emulate and build their businesses. To find examples, just look at the award-winning projects and companies throughout this issue of Groundwork!
Relationships are the elixir of life for landscape contracting firms. The ability to develop relationships, share ideas and experiences with others in the industry is paramount to building any company. LCA’s future remains in building from this basic foundation. LCA will continue to create a welcoming community for companies and their teams to network with others in their industry and region, to share and learn from one another including the opportunity to develop lifelong relationships.
In addition, we will work to coordinate with the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) to create programing that does not compete but rather compliment one another and is available to our members without having to travel beyond the Chesapeake Watershed area.
LCA will also continue to host events where landscaping professionals can not only earn CEU credits towards licenses and certifications, but also learn about new technology, regulations, and trends in the industry –like the Sustainability Symposium and the Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification Conference.
We see the future of the landscape industry tied to strong environmental stewardship and sustainability. This includes positioning ourselves as experts through the utilization and understanding of technology to help advance our companies as well as increase profitability.
LCA understands the future includes people who are bilingual – and speak English as a second language – therefore, our programing will be consistent with the demographics of the industry. The composition of the board will need to reflect these future leaders, so LCA and local companies remain strong and successful. The industry has changed dramatically in the past 50 years, and LCA is positioning ourselves for the next 50 years. We will strive to continue to operate by our Mission Statement:
To advance the success of members and provide a welcoming community for landscape professionals.
Please feel free to reach out to me at any time (ron.m.rubin@gmail.com) with questions, recommendations, or concerns. We are here to help our members advance their success.
We look forward to a successful 2024!
Respectfully,
